GB2341635A

GB2341635A - Covering panel for vehicle rear lid lock part

Info

Publication number: GB2341635A
Application number: GB9921493A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marko Polic
Original assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
Current assignee: Daimler AG
Priority date: 1998-09-17
Filing date: 1999-09-10
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-10
Also published as: IT1309057B1; GB9921493D0; GB2341635B; FR2783488A1; ITRM990569A1; ITRM990569A0; DE19842623C1

Abstract

A rear lid 3 of a passenger vehicle mounts a lid-side lock part 6 which engages another lock part 8. The lock part 6 projects through a covering panel 1 which protects the lock components against the accumulation of dirt. To accommodate transverse adjustment of the lock part 6 the panel 1 has an opening 9 which is overlapped by a frame 14 mounted for transverse sliding movement thereon and the frame 14 has an opening 17 which closely receives the projecting lock part 6. Transverse adjustment of the lock part 6 causes transverse movement of the associated frame 14 relative to the panel 1 but the frame 14 is large enough for the panel opening 9 to remain covered.

Description

Covering pancl on a readid of a 2341635 The invention relates to a

covering panel which is intended for fastening to a rear lid of a passenger vehicle and is used for covering a rear compartment of the passenger vehicle, the rear lid, which covers the rear compartment, being closed by a lid-side lock part, which protrudes from the rear lid, engaging in a boundary-side lock part, which is fitted on a rear-compartment boundary, and interacting with said lock part, the covering panel containing an opening through which the lid-side lock part extends in a direction of extent, and 0 C> when the rear lid is closed, the covering panel being arranged between the latter and 1 Z the rearcompartment boundary. DE 195 25 289 AI discloses a covering panel of this type on a front lid of a passenger vehicle.

In a section which faces the rear-compartment boundary, the rear lid contains a recess in which the lid-side lock part is accommodated. A covering panel of the type mentioned at the beginning is used to cover this recess, the lid-side lock part protruding through the opening which is contained in the covering panel.

A covering panel of this type is intended to make it difficult for dirt to penetrate into the recess, in order thereby to ensure reliable functioning of the lock components accommodated in it. As described above, when the rear lid is closed, the covering panel is arranged between it and the rear-compartment boundary, so that when the rear lid is swung down, said panel cannot be seen from the outside. The covering panel can only be seen when the rear lid is open and in that case is also used to cover the surroundings of the lid-side lock part in such a manner that an aesthetic, elegant and visually attractive form is produced for that region of the rear lid which contains the lid-side lock part. A styling element of this type is primarily used in passenger vehicles of relatively high quality.

The relative position of the boundary-side lock part, which is fitted in the rear-compartment boundary, relative to the rear-compartment boundary varies on account of production, manufacturing and installation tolerances. Also, on account of the abovementioned tolerances the relative position of the rear lid with regard to the rear-compartment boundary varies. In addition, the relative position of the lid-side lock part varies relative to the rear lid. In order to be able to ensure proper and reliable functioning of a rear-lid lock, which is formed from the lid-side lock part and from the boundary-side lock part, the lid-side lock part is conventionally positioned relative to 2 the boundary-side lock part before it is finally fixed in place, as a result of which the abovementioned deviations in relative positions due to tolerances can be compensated fo r.

For adjustment purposes, the lid-side lock part has to be adjusted at least transversely to its direction of extent and at least in one direction. In order to allow for this, the opening in the covering panel has to be designed such that it is clearly larger than is required for the lid-side lock part to penetrate through, since the entire adjusting region of the lid-side lock part has to be free and must not obstructed by the covering panel. Since, in addition, deviations of the relative position of the covering panel with regard to the rear lid due to tolerances have to be allowed for, it is possible that after the lid-side lock part has been adjusted, clearly visible gaps are formed between the lid-side lock part and the covering panel, which gaps, on the one hand, do not offer effective protection against dirt accumulating and which, on the other hand, have a considerable adverse effect on the aesthetic impression intended to be given by the covering panel.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of refining a covering panel of the type mentioned at the beginning to the effect that even after the lid-side lock part has been adjusted, effective protection of the covered lock parts against the accumulation of dirt is ensured. In addition, the intention is to maintain the aesthetic effect intended to be given by the covering panel.

According to the present invention there is provided a covering panel for fastening to a rear lid of a passenger vehicle and is used for covering a rear compartment of the passenger vehicle, the rear lid, which covers the rear compartment, being closed by a lid-side lock part, which protrudes from the rear lid, engaging in a boundary-side lock part, which is fitted on a rear-compartment boundary, and interacting with said lock part, the covering panel containing an opening through which the lid-side lock part extends in a direction of extent, and when the rear lid is closed, the covering panel being arranged between the latter and the rear-compartment boundary, wherein an edge of the opening surrounds the lidside lock part with a relatively large clearance, and on the covering panel a frame is mounted so as to be adjustable transversely to the direction of extent of the lid-side lock part, which frame overlaps the opening edge in the direction of extent and contains a passage through which the lid-side lock part extends, an edge of the passage surrounding the lid-side lock part with a relatively small clearance.

3 The invention is based on the general concept of providing a frame through which the lid-side lock part penetrates, in a passage, with as precise a fit as possible, i.e. with little clearance, so that between this frame and the lid-side lock part no gaps or only narrow gaps can form. In this case, this frame is mounted on the covering panel in such a manner that the passage of the frame can be adjusted over the entire adjusting region of the lid-side lock part within the opening of the covering panel, the frame always overlapping with the opening of the covering panel. In this manner, in none of the possible relative positions of the lid-side lock part with regard to the rear lid can an annoying gap form. Because of the relatively narrow gaps between the frame and lid-side lock part, that region which is covered by the covering panel, in particular the lock components which are accommodated in the recess of the rear lid, can be effectively protected against the accumulation dirt. In addition, in order to improve the aesthetic effect the same colour and/or the same surface structure may be provided for the covering panel and for the frame.

It is clear that in application cases in which because of the design only one-dimensional adjustments of the lid-side block part can be carried out, the frame merely needs to be mounted such that it can be adjusted onedimensionally too. However, the adjustments conventionally take place at least two-dimensional ly, i.e. in a plane. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting of the frame is accordingly designed in such a manner that it makes two-dimensional adjusting movements possible. A mounting of this type is described as a floating mounting.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the covering panel according to the invention, the mounting of the frame on the covering panel is formed by guide grooves in which the frame engages at least with part of its outer edge. These guide grooves can be constructed in a particularly simple manner by rectilinear, in particular L-shaped, profiled elements being integrally formed on one side of the covering panel, the particular guide grooves being constructed between this side of the covering panel and the profiled elements. In this case, the profiled elements may be retrofitted onto the covering panel retrospectively. It is also possible to produce the profiled elements in one piece or integrally with the covering panel.

In a convenient embodiment of the covering panel according to the invention, the mounting may be subject to friction in order to prevent relative movement of the frame with regard to the covering panel. Relative movements of this 4 type may be caused by vibrations and shaking, which arise during the normal driving mode of the passenger vehicle and such it would to possible to perceive in the interior of the vehicle as an audible and annoying noise. In another embodiment, such a generation of noise may also be prevented by the mounting being designed such that it is clearance-free in the direction of extent of the lid-side lock part.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the covering panel according to the invention, a lateral extension can be integrally formed on said covering panel, which extension contains a manually operable closing handle with which the open rear lid can be moved in the direction of the rear-compartment boundary to close it. In this manner, the function of a closing aid is integrated in the g aid, covering panel, or the function of the covering panel is integrated in the closin., so that overall fewer components have to be manufactured. According to an advantageous embodiment, even the closing handle and the extension can be produced in one piece with the covering panel, as a result of which fewer components have to be produced. In addition, the aesthetic impression is improved by the forms merging into one another.

Further important features and advantages of the covering panel according to the invention arise from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

Of course, the abovementioned features and the features which are still to be explained below can be used not only in the particularly specified combination but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, in each case schematically,

Fig. I shows a view of the rear region of a passenger vehicle with an opened rear lid which is fitted with the covering panel according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the covering panel according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows a partial rear view of the covering panel from Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the covering panel corresponding to the line of intersection IV-IV from Fig. 3, the arrangement of the covering panel with the rear lid closed being additionally represented.

In 1 According to Fig. 1, a covering panel I according to the invention is fastened on a lower border 2 of a rear lid 3 of a passenger vehicle 4. The rear lid 3 is used for covering a rear compartment 5 of the passenger vehicle 4. The rear lid 3 can be swung down and closed in the position covering the rear compartment 5. For this purpose, a rear-lid lock is provided, which lock consists of a lid-side lock part 6, which is fastened to the rear lid 3, and of a boundary-side lock part 8, which is fastened to a rear-compartment boundary 7. If the rear lid 3 is swung down or swung shut, the lock parts 6 and 8 can interact with each other and close the rear lid 3.

The lid-side lock part 6 is fastened in the rear lid 3 in a recess, which cannot be seen in Fig. I (see recess 23 in Fig. 4), on the rear lid 3 and extends through the covering panel 1, an opening 9 being formed in the covering panel I for this 41D purpose. Since the lid-side lock part 6 protrudes over the lower border 2 of the rear lid 3, the boundary-side lock part 8 can be accommodated in a hollow or gap 10 in the rear-compartment boundary 7. In this manner, the boundary-side lock part 8 does not form an disruptive contour which obstructs the loading of the rear compartment 5.

The covering panel I serves as protection against the accumulation of dirt and at the same time is configured as a styling element with which the surroundings of the lid-side lock part 6 are configured or panelled in a visually attractive manner. In the preferred embodiment which is shown, the covering panel I is laterally extended beyond that region of the rear-lid lower border 2 which contains the lock (6, 8), a closing handle 12 being constructed in a lateral extension 11. With the aid of this closing handle 12, the swung-open rear lid 3 can be swung shut manually without the user coming into contact with possibly dirty external regions of the rear lid 3.

According to Fig. 2, the covering panel I can be screwed to a number of points 13 in order to fasten it to the rear lid 3. In the region of the opening 9, a frame 14 is arranged on the covering panel 1, on the rear side which faces the rear lid 3. The frame 14 is dimensioned in such a manner that its outer edge 15 overlaps an edge 16 of the opening 9 in the plan view according to Fig. 2 and in the rear view according to Fig. 3. The frame 14 contains a passage 17 whose edge 18 lies completely within the opening 9. The frame 14 is mounted such that it can be adjusted twodimensionally in the plane of the opening 9.

For this purpose, according to Fig. 3 a plurality of guide elements 19 are fitted to that rear side of the covering panel I which faces the rear lid 3, for 6 example by being integrally formed, welded or bonded on. According to Fig. 4, the guide elements 19 have an essentially L-shaped profile. In this manner, a guide groove 20 is formed between the guide element 19 and the opening edge 16. The frame 14 engages with its outer edge 15 in this guide groove 20. In the process, a spacing is provided between the outer edge 15 and a groove base 21 of the particular guide groove 20 which makes it possible for the frame 14 to be adjusted relative to the covering panel I in a direction indicated by a double arrow X.

Moreover, the frame 14 can also be adjusted by the guide elements 19 in a direction Y which is symbolized by a corresponding double arrow and runs perpendicularly to the adjustment direction X. The adjustability of the frame 14 is limited in the Y direction by longitudinal webs 22 which are formed on the circumference of the covering panel I and protrude from the rear side of the covering panel I in the direction of the rear flat 3. Through the adjustability in the X direction and in the Y direction the frame 14 obtains a floating mounting, i.e. it is able to be adjusted in the plane defined by the dimensions X and Y.

The manner in which the covering panel I according to the invention functions is explained in the following:

According to Fig. 4, when the rear lid 3 is swun down, the covering 9 panel I is arranged between the rear lid 3 and the rear-compartment boundary 7. The lid-side lock part 6, which is only represented symbolically and by dashed lines, penetrates through the opening 9 of the covering panel 1, in a direction of extent symbolized by an arrow Z, and also through the passage 17 of the frame 14. In this case, the lid-side lock part 6 is accommodated in a recess 23 made in the rear lid 3 or in its lower border 2 and is fastened to the rear lid 3 in said recess. In order to close the rear lid 3, the lid-side lock part 6 penetrates into the hollow 10 of the rearcompartment boundary 7 and interacts there with the boundary-side lock part 8, which is designed as a bolt and is fastened in the rear-compartment boundary 7. For example, a hook element 24 of the lid-side lock part 6 grips behind the boundary-side lock part 8 which is in the form of a bolt.

The passage 17 of the frame 14 is dimensioned in such a manner that its passage edge 18 surrounds the lid-side lock part 6 on all sides with a relatively C.

small clearance 25, so that essentially no gap is visible between the lidside lock part 6 and the frame 14. In contrast thereto, the opening 9 of the covering panel 1 is dimensioned in such a manner that its opening edge 16 surrounds the lid-side lock 7 part 6 on all sides of the relatively large clearance 26. This relatively large clearance 26 is dimensioned in such a manner that the lid-side lock part 6 can take up all possible relative positions with regard to the rear lid 3 which may be required within the scope of adjusting the lid- side lock part 6 to compensate for the deviations in position which are outlined at the beginning and are caused by tolerances between the lock parts 6 and 8. The frame 14 and the guide elements 19 are dimensioned and coordinated with one another in such a manner that the frame 14 can be adjusted transversely to the direction of extent Z in the plane defined by the X direction and Y direction to such an extent that the passage 17 can likewise take up all possible adjustment positions of the lid-side lock part 6, the outer edge 15 also always overlapping the opening edge 16, so that at no time does a gap anse between the covering panel I and the frame 14.

By means of the covering panel I according to the invention it can be ensured that virtually no accumulations of dirt can pass from the outside into the recess 23. In addition, the region of the lid-side lock part 6 is thereby given an attractive appearance.

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Claims

Claims

A covering panel for fastening to a rear lid of a passenger vehicle and is used for covering a rear compartment of the passenger vehicle, the rear lid, which covers the rear compartment, being closed by a lid-side lock part, which protrudes from the rear lid, engaging in a boundary-side lock part, which is fitted on a rearcompartment boundary, and interacting with said lock part, the covering panel containing an opening through which the lid-side lock part extends in a direction of extent, and when the rear lid is closed, the covering panel being arranged between the latter and the rear-compartment boundary, wherein an edge of the opening surrounds the lid-side lock part with a relatively large clearance, and on the covering panel a frame is mounted so as to be adjustable transversely to the direction of extent of the lid-side lock part, which frame overlaps the opening edge in the direction of extent and contains a passage through which the lid-side lock part extends, an edge of the passage surrounding the lid-side lock part with a relatively small clearance.

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2. A covering panel according to Claim 1, wherein the mounting of the frame is such that it makes two-dimensional adjusting movements (X, Y) possible (floating mounting).
3. A covering panel according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the W mounting of the frame is formed by guide grooves which are constructed in the vicinity of the opening edge on the covering panel and in which the frame engages at 0 0 least with part of its outer edge.
4. A covering panel according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the 0 2n mounting is subject to friction.
5. A covering panel according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the mounting is such that it is clearance-free in the direction of extent of the lid-side lock part.
6. A covering panel according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame is mounted on that side of the covering panel which faces the rear lid.

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7. A covering panel according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein a lateral extension is integrally formed on the covering panel, which extension includes a manually operable closing handle with which the rear lid is movable in the direction of the rear-compartment boundary.
8. A covering panel for fastening to a rear lid of a passenger vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

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