DE102021131886A1 - INTERIOR COMPONENT FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Interior component (1) for heating a vehicle interior, the interior component (1) comprising: a non-deformable base body (5) which gives the interior component (1) its basic shape, a covering (6) which is provided on an outer wall of the base body (5). , and a heating element (3) which is arranged between the base body (5) and the covering (6), the material of the base body (5) having a hard plastic with gas inclusions (8).

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to an interior component for heating vehicle interiors. The interior component has a base body, a heating element and a cladding, with the heating element being arranged between the base body and the cladding. The base body consists of a material that includes a hard plastic with gas inclusions. The interior component is, for example, a surface heating system for vehicles, in particular a surface heating system for the interiors of motor vehicles.

State of the art

Vehicle heaters are known from the prior art, in which the outside air is heated and then blown into the passenger compartment. In addition, heatable interior components for vehicles are known which are in direct contact with the driver or the passenger during operation or while the vehicle is being used. This includes, for example, seat heaters. In the case of the known heatable interior components, a heating mat is arranged between a flexible and deformable base body, for example a foam core, and a covering, for example a seat cover. In order to be able to transfer the heat from the heating mat to the driver or passenger, an insulating layer is regularly arranged between the heating mat and the flexible base body.

In the case of interior components that are intended to heat the vehicle interior and are not in direct contact with the user, for example in the fittings of a vehicle, the use of an insulating layer is disadvantageous for various reasons. On the one hand, additional material is required for the insulating layer and, on the other hand, the introduction of an insulating layer represents an additional processing step in production. Both have a negative effect on the production costs. In addition, the interior components in question are generally interior components with a non-deformable, inflexible or rigid base body which is tight-fitting and is surrounded by a lining, for example leather. An additional insulating layer would lead to a visible local thickening of the interior component. This is not desired for optical reasons.

Description of the invention

Proceeding from the prior art listed above, a first object of the present invention is to specify an interior component which eliminates the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to specify an interior component for heating a vehicle interior that is easy to manufacture, is light in weight and has a high degree of efficiency with regard to the heat given off to the vehicle interior. A second object of the invention is to specify a method for producing such an interior component.

The first task is solved with an interior component according to claim 1 . The second object is achieved with a manufacturing method according to claim 8. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The solution according to the invention consists in specifying an interior component for heating a vehicle, which comprises a non-deformable base body. The basic body gives the interior component its basic shape. This means that, for example, edges, surfaces and/or elevations of the interior component correspond to the edges, surfaces and/or elevations of the base body. The base body is preferably rigid or unyielding. The non-deformable base body has the advantage that the interior component can be used, for example, as a fitting and/or as a trim component in the interior of a vehicle.

The base body consists of a material that has a hard plastic, for example a cooled or solidified thermoplastic. The hard plastic can be a polycarbonate and/or a polystyrene with its copolymers, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. In an advantageous embodiment, the base body consists of the hard plastic. According to the invention, the hard plastic contains gas inclusions. This has the advantage that the base body has a reduced weight and heat-insulating properties.

Furthermore, the interior component according to the invention includes a covering that is provided on an outer wall of the base body. The lining is preferably designed as a decorative layer. That is, when the interior component is installed in a vehicle, the trim may be visible to the user. The lining can be made of leather, imitation leather, Alcantara or a textile, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the lining can be a sprayed skin.

According to the invention, the interior component also includes a heating element. The heating element is between tween the base body and the panel is arranged. The heating element can be enclosed in the base body. The heating element is preferably in direct contact with the base body and the casing.

According to an advantageous exemplary development of the invention, it is provided that the base body has a lower thermal conductivity than the cladding. This has the effect, for example, that the heat radiated by the heating element during operation is at least essentially given off to the vehicle interior via the lining. The term “at least essentially” is to be understood here in such a way that more than 60%, preferably more than 70%, particularly preferably more than 80% of the heat radiated by the heating element is emitted to the vehicle interior via the lining can. Advantageously, the gas inclusions in the hard plastic lead to the thermal conductivity of the base body being lower than the thermal conductivity of the cladding. If the base body has a lower thermal conductivity than the cladding, this has the advantage that the heating element can be operated in a particularly energy-efficient manner. A further advantage is that the material of the base body increases the efficiency of the interior component in relation to the heating of the vehicle interior.

In an exemplary embodiment, the gas pockets are one or more inert gases. For example, the gas inclusions are formed by nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide. Alternatively or additionally, the gas inclusions can be inert gases.

In an exemplary development of the interior component according to the invention, the heating element comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface.

The first surface of the heating element can bear against the base body, in particular bear directly on the base body. This has the advantage that there is no need for an insulating layer between the base body and the heating element. This results in lower material costs, lower manufacturing costs and a lower dead weight of the interior component.

The second surface of the heating element is preferably covered by the casing. For example, the lining is applied directly to the second surface of the heating element. This has the advantage that the heat given off by the heating element can be transferred directly to the lining and given off to the vehicle interior. This has the advantage that the efficiency of the interior component increases with regard to heating up the vehicle interior.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the interior component is designed as a surface heating system. For example, the heating element can be an electric panel heater. The heating element can have one or more electrical heating loops, in particular one or more heating strands. The heating element is preferably a fleece cord heater, a heating foil and/or a heating fabric. This has the advantage that the heating element has a design that is as flat as possible.

Alternatively or additionally, the heating element can have cooling loops, so that the heating element can also be used to cool the vehicle interior.

In an exemplary development, the heating element has a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can be an electrical thermistor, in particular an NTC thermistor. A heating element with a temperature sensor has the advantage that the heating element can be controlled better and/or overheating of the heating element can be prevented.

The interior component can be an interior component of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, an aircraft and/or a ship. The interior component is preferably a fitting of a vehicle.

The embodiments of the interior component described above can be produced according to the invention using a production method which comprises the following steps: arranging the heating element in an injection mold and injecting a plastic melt into the injection mold. When the plastic melt is injected into the injection mold, a base body is produced on the surface of which the heating element is arranged. A gas, in particular an inert gas, is supplied to the plastic melt before, after and/or during the injection. After the plastic melt has solidified sufficiently, for example by cooling or by a chemical reaction, the base body is removed from the injection mold together with the heating element. The heating element is preferably enclosed in the base body. After removal, a liner is applied to encase or cover the heating element and at least a portion of the surface of the body. The manufacturing process includes a mini times number of work steps, which has the advantage that the manufacturing costs and the manufacturing effort are minimal / is.

The method can be further developed such that the inert gas is supplied to the plastic in such a way that it nucleates in particular in the area of the heating element. For example, the inert gas can only be supplied to the plastic at the beginning of the injection process. The inert gas preferably nucleates uniformly throughout the base body. The density of the plastic is advantageously reduced by the gas. In particular in the area of the heating element, a reduction in density may be desired in order to reduce the thermal conductivity of the base body in this area.

According to an exemplary development of the manufacturing method, the first surface of the heating element is covered or sprayed with plastic, in particular the plastic melt, during the injection process. A second surface of the heating element opposite the first surface remains essentially free of plastic, in particular free of the plastic melt, during the injection process. This means that wetting the second surface with plastic is undesirable and is only limited to the manufacturing tolerances given during production. In this development, after the covering has been applied, the second surface is preferably covered by the covering, in particular only by the covering.

character list

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Interieurbauteils gemäß eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 2 eine schematische Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts aus einem Querschnitt eines Grundkörpers des in 1 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 3 eine schematische Schnittansicht eines ersten Verfahrensschritts eines Ausführungsbeispiels für ein Verfahren zur Herstellung des Interieurbauteils gemäß 1;
• 4 eine schematische Schnittansicht eines zweiten Verfahrensschritts des Ausführungsbeispiels für ein Verfahren zur Herstellung des Interieurbauteils gemäß 1; und
• 5 eine schematische Schnittansicht eines zweiten Verfahrensschritts des Ausführungsbeispiels für ein Verfahren zur Herstellung des Interieurbauteils gemäß 1.

The different and exemplary features described above can be combined with one another according to the invention, insofar as this is technically meaningful and suitable. Further features, advantages and embodiments of the invention result from the following description of embodiments of the interior fitting part according to the invention and with reference to the figures. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of an interior component according to a first embodiment;
• 2 a schematic enlargement of a section of a cross section of a base body of the in 1 shown embodiment;
• 3 a schematic sectional view of a first method step of an exemplary embodiment of a method for producing the interior component according to FIG 1 ;
• 4 a schematic sectional view of a second method step of the exemplary embodiment of a method for producing the interior component according to FIG 1 ; and
• 5 a schematic sectional view of a second method step of the exemplary embodiment of a method for producing the interior component according to FIG 1 .

Ways to carry out the invention

1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an interior component 1 according to the invention in a perspective representation. The interior component 1 has a non-deformable base body 5 . The base body 5 gives the interior component 1 its basic shape. A cover 6 is provided on an outer wall of the base body 5 . The lining 6 can be leather or imitation leather, for example. A heating element 3 is arranged between the base body 5 and the covering 6 . In the illustrated embodiment, the heating element has 3 heating strands 3c.

The heating element 3 is preferably enclosed in the base body 5 . That means that an in 1 non-visible first surface 3a of the heating element 3 rests against the base body 5 and a second surface 3b of the heating element 3 is flush with an outer surface of the base body 5 . The second surface 3b and the outer surface of the base body 5 lying flush against it form a visible side. The covering 6 is arranged on the visible side. The second surface 3b faces the cladding 6, in particular the inner surface of the cladding 6, the second surface 3b being covered by the cladding 6. FIG.

For better understanding, part of the fairing 6 in 1 not shown, so that at least part of the heating element 3 and part of the gold body 5 is visible. In real embodiments of the first exemplary embodiment of the interior component 1, the visible side, in particular the heating element 3, is completely covered or clad by the cladding 6. The second surface 3b of the heating element 3 bears against the inside of the casing 6 .

The base body 5 consists of a hard plastic, for example a thermoplastic. The base body 5, in particular the hard plastic, has a number of gas pockets 8. The gas pockets 8 are in 2 shown where 2 shows an enlargement of a schematic detail from a cross section of the base body 5 . The gas inclusions 8 are preferably inclusions of one or different inert gases.

Due to the gas inclusions 8, the base body 5 has a lower thermal conductivity than the cladding 6. This causes the heat radiated by the heating element 3 during operation to be emitted at least essentially via the cladding 6 to a vehicle interior in which the interior component 1 can be installed.

The 3-5 show different method steps of an exemplary method for producing the interior component 1 according to the above embodiment in chronological order.

3 shows the first method step, in which the heating element 3 is arranged in an injection mold 2 . The second surface 3b of the heating element 3 is placed on a first injection molded part 2a of the injection mold 2 . Thereafter, a second injection mold part 2b of the injection mold 2 is arranged opposite the first surface 3a of the heating element 3 .

A connector plug 7 is arranged on the first surface 3a of the heating element 3 . The connector plug 7 is suitable for being connected to a power supplier and/or a control device.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second injection molded part 2b comprises a nozzle for a plastic melt 4 (cf. 4 ) and a hold-down device 9. The hold-down device 9 is designed to hold the connector plug 7 during the in 4 to fix the injection process shown, in particular to hold it down.

As in 4 shown, the injection mold 2, in particular the first injection molded part 2a and the second injection molded part 2b of the injection mold 2, forms a hollow space, in particular a cavity. The plastic melt 4 is injected into this cavity. The plastic melt 4 can be, for example, a heated hard plastic 4 , in particular a heated thermoplastic 4 . A gas, preferably an inert gas, is supplied to the plastic melt 4 before, after and/or during the injection.

The heating element 3 is arranged in the cavity, in particular in the cavity, during injection, with the first surface 3a facing the cavity. The second surface 3b rests against the first injection molded part 2a. By injecting the plastic melt 4 into the cavity, the heating element 3 is back-injected. In this case, the first surface 3a in particular is covered by the plastic melt 4 . The second surface 3b remains essentially free of the plastic melt 4.

The injection preferably comprises a single injection process, so that the plastic melt 4 does not cool down or only cools to an insignificant extent over the course of the injection. As soon as the cavity of the injection mold 2 is filled with the plastic melt 4, the gas within the plastic melt nucleates. The form in the 2 Gas inclusions 8 shown. The gas inclusions 8 cause a reduction in the density of the plastic.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the connecting plug 7 arranged on the heating element 3 is also partially back-injected by the plastic melt 4 .

After the plastic melt 4 has been injected, the plastic melt 4 solidifies by cooling and/or by a thermal reaction. The solidified plastic melt 4 with the gas inclusions 8 forms the base body 5. On the surface of the base body 5, the heating element 3 is arranged. The heating element 3 is surrounded by the base body 5 .

5 shows the base body 5, the heating element 3 and the connector plug 7 after they have been removed from the injection mold 2, in a sectional view. The connection between the connector plug 7 and the heating element 3 is arranged in the base body 5 . The second surface 3b of the heating element 3 is flush with a surface of the base body 5. The second surface 3b and the flush adjoining surface of the base body 5 form a visible side.

In a further method step not shown in the figures, the cladding 6 is applied. The cladding 6 is applied in particular to the visible side described above. The heating element 3 and at least part of the surface of the base body 5 are covered or clad by the covering 6 . The entire visible side is preferably covered or clad by the cladding 6 . The second surface 3b of the heating element 3 rests against the inside of the casing 6 (cf. 1 ).

Reference List

1

interior component

2

injection mold

2a

first injection molded part

2 B

second injection molded part

3

heating element

3a

first surface of the heating element

3b

second surface of the heating element

3c

heating wire

4

plastic melt

5

body

6

disguise

7

connector plug

8th

gas pockets

9

hold-down device

Claims (10)

Interior component (1) for heating a vehicle interior, the interior component (1) comprising: a dimensionally stable base body (5) which gives the interior component (1) its basic shape, a covering (6) which is provided on an outer wall of the base body (5). , and a heating element (3) which is arranged between the base body (5) and the covering (6), the material of the base body (5) having a hard plastic with gas inclusions (8). Interior component (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the base body (5) has a lower thermal conductivity than the cladding (6), whereby the heat emitted by the heating element (3) is at least essentially released to the vehicle interior via the cladding (6). Interior component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (3) is enclosed in the base body (5). Interior component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas inclusions (8) are one or different inert gases. Interior component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (3) has a first surface (3a) and a second surface (3b) opposite the first surface (3a), the first surface (3a) on the base body (5) and the second surface (3b) is covered by the lining (6). Interior component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (3) is a fleece cord heater, a heating foil and/or a heating fabric. Interior component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (3) comprises an NTC thermistor. Method for producing an interior component (1) according to one of the preceding claims with the following steps: a) arranging the heating element (3) in an injection mold (2), b) Injecting a plastic melt (4) into the injection mold (2) in order to produce a base body (5) on the surface of which the heating element (3) is arranged, the plastic melt (4) before, after and/or during the injection gas is supplied c) removing the base body (5) with the heating element (3) from the injection mold (2) after the plastic melt (4) has solidified, d) applying a covering (6) to cover the heating element (3) and at least part of the surface of the base body (5). procedure after claim 9 , characterized in that, before the removal of the base body (5) from the injection mold (2), the gas nucleated in the plastic has brought about a reduction in the density of the plastic, at least in the region of the heating element (3). Procedure according to one of Claims 8 or 9 , characterized in that a first surface (3a) of the heating element (3) is covered by the plastic melt (4) during the injection process and a second surface (3b) of the heating element (3) opposite the first surface (3a) is essentially free of the plastic melt (4) remains, the second surface (3b) being covered by the covering (6) after the covering (6) has been applied.

Images