DE102005031395B4 - Plastic component and method for attaching an attachment to a plastic component - Google Patents

Abstract

Plastic component, in particular vehicle part, with a holding element (18) for an attachment, wherein in the plastic component (10) at least one recess (16) is formed, in which the holding element is latched, characterized in that the holding element (18) consists of a spring steel strip is made, the two ends are folded over to form latching projections (24) and a lying between the latching projections central region (20) for securing the attachment, wherein the two locking projections (24) forming ends of the metal strip are bent so that they facing each other and wherein the central region (20) of the holding element (18) in the relaxed state on the side remote from the latching projections (24) side of the central region is convexly curved, so that in the relaxed state of the holding element (18), the two the Engraving projections (24) forming ends of the metal strip in walls (26) of the at least one recess (16) dig in and exert an inwardly directed force on the part of the plastic component (10) lying between the latching projections (24).

Description

The present invention relates on the one hand to a plastic component, in particular a vehicle part, with a retaining element for an attachment and on the other hand to a method for fastening an attachment to a plastic component, in particular a vehicle part.

In vehicle construction plastic components are often used today, for example as part of a vehicle roof or as a roof module, which is prefabricated as an entire roof unit and is connected only at the final assembly of the vehicle with the vehicle body. If such plastic components are to be connected to attachments, for example, with brackets for attaching the plastic component as such or holding elements for attaching other components to the plastic component, such plastic components must be provided with holding elements, which are usually made of metal or made of a harder plastic and which the attachments can be attached, for example by means of screws or rivets.

To provide in such a plastic component brackets for attaching an attachment, was in the EP 1 491 312 A2 proposed to fix a Einlegerteil serving as a fastening element for an attachment by means of (for example) a magnet in the foaming tool used for producing the plastic part and so to foam the fastener into the plastic component. This procedure is disadvantageous in two respects. In particular, when the plastic component is a relatively flat component, for example a roof element for a vehicle, such foamed holders are often distinguished on the opposite side of the plastic component, ie on the outside, which is visually disturbing. On the other hand, the assembly is quite complex, since the fasteners must be individually and usually inserted by hand into the mold.

In US 2002/0163219 A1 a plastic component with a holder is proposed, which can be clipped on a rail. Here, a holding element is provided in the form of a spring element which is kinked several times at its ends to jam in undercuts on a rail-shaped storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic component, in particular a vehicle part, with a holding element for an attachment and a method for attaching an attachment to such a plastic component, in which the mounting of the attachment to the plastic component designed simpler than in the case of known in the art solutions.

This object is achieved by a plastic component according to claims 1 and 2 and a method according to claim 5.

In the method according to the invention for fastening an attachment to a plastic component, in particular a vehicle part, at least one recess is formed in the plastic component. The recesses may, for example, be grooves or holes which are formed by appropriate shaping of the molding tool without additional work steps during molding of the plastic component or which are incorporated into the foamed plastic component after completion of the foaming process, e.g. are milled. It is understood that the shape of the recesses are virtually unlimited and this may for example also have an undercut. In these recesses retaining elements are then locked, to which the attachment can be attached. The holding element is in this case made of a spring steel sheet strip and shaped so that it jammed in corresponding latching projections in one or more recesses. In this type of connection occurs no sign of the retaining element on the opposite side of the plastic component and is significantly reduced in comparison to the conventional connections, the assembly time.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The plastic component is preferably made of a foam material, for example of polyurethane (PUR), where all of today's common manufacturing methods for composite plastics can be used, in particular LFI method (Long Fiber Injection) or other common Schäumvorgänge, in particular injection molding or transfer molding, be applied. A honeycomb structure, for example of paper, metal or plastic, embedded on both sides by a cover layer, e.g. a polyurethane fiber-impregnated fiberglass mat, is stabilized. An example of such a structure is the PHC structure (Paper Honey-Comb).

The holding element is made of a spring steel strip, the two ends are folded over to form locking projections and a lying between the locking projections central region to which the attachment can be attached. In order to fasten such a holding element to the plastic component, two grooves are provided in the plastic component, for example which engages the retaining element with the latching projections. In particular, in this case the two ends can each be bent twice by an angle of approximately 90 ° in order to form two latching projections, by means of which the retaining element is latched on the region of the plastic component lying between the two grooves.

If in this case the two ends of the sheet metal strip forming the holding element are bent so that the two latching projections face one another, the central area of the holding element is convexly curved in the relaxed state on the side of the central area facing away from the latching projections. If pressure is exerted on the central region of the retaining element when the retaining element is pressed into a plastic component provided with corresponding grooves, then the convex region is deformed such that its curvature decreases, as a result of which the two latching projections formed at the ends of the spring steel element are moved away from one another the retaining element can be easily inserted into the recesses on the plastic component. Now, if the pressure on the holder taken away, it relaxes, with the two locking projections move toward each other and thereby lock the retaining element to the plastic component. Subsequently, an attachment can be attached to the holding element. If the attachment here exerts a tensile force on the retaining element, the curvature of the central region of the retaining element is reinforced, so that the holder with its locking projections wedged even more firmly on the plastic component.

In an analogous manner, the two ends of the sheet metal strip forming the holding element can be bent such that the two latching projections point away from one another. In this case, the central region of the retaining element in the relaxed state is concavely curved on the side of the central region facing away from the latching projections. If the concave area is pulled flat during the assembly of the retaining element, then the two regions of the retaining element having angled portions move towards one another, thus facilitating the insertion into a plastic component provided with corresponding recesses for the locking projections. If the retaining element relaxes, then it wedges elastically with the latching projections on the plastic component.

• 1 eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Kunststoffbauteils vor dem Anbringen der Halterung an den Kunststoffbauteil; und
• 2 eine Seitenansicht des Kunststoffbauteils aus 1 nach erfolgter Montage des Halteelements.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic perspective view of a plastic component according to the invention before attaching the holder to the plastic component; and
• 2 a side view of the plastic component 1 after installation of the retaining element.

1 shows a plastic component, which is designed in particular as a roof element for a vehicle. It shows 1 a total of 10 designated plastic component, which is a basic body 12 , which is made for example by means of an LFI method, and a in 1 on the bottom of the body 12 applied foil 14 having. In particular, it may be in the film 14 to act a glazing element, which if the component 10 The roof outside of the component is installed in the vehicle 10 forms. At the side of the element facing away from the film 10 are two grooves 16 into the component 10 molded to a holding element 18 on the plastic component 10 to install. The holding element 18 This is formed from a spring steel strip, which has a central area 20 as well as two to both ends of the central area 20 downwards bent side areas 22 having. At the extreme ends of the down-facing side areas 22 has the bracket 18 latching projections 24 on, by means of which the holder 18 in the grooves 16 can be locked, as in 2 is shown.

2 shows the state after the holding element 18 with its the locking projections 24 containing page areas 22 in the in the plastic component 10 molded grooves 16 was introduced. When pressing in the retaining element 18 In this case, pressure was exerted on the concave, upwardly curved central region of the retaining element, so that it bears against the residual stress of the retaining element 18 was bent, so the two locking projections 24 to move away from each other. If the retaining element in the in 2 Released position shown, so relaxes the holding element 18 , so that the two locking projections 24 move towards each other and this in the vertical walls 26 the grooves 16 dig. As if from a comparison of 1 and 2 is apparent, the mutual distance of the side areas 22 of the holding element 18 and the distance of the corresponding grooves 16 in the plastic component chosen so that in the in 2 shown assembled state of the retaining element by the residual stress of the retaining element 18 an inward force F from the locking projections on the between the side portions 22 lying part of the plastic component 12 is exercised.

In the holding element 18 are also two openings 28 provided on which various attachments can be fastened for example by means of screw or rivet. Forms in the assembled state by the attachment a tensile force on the holder 18 as they are in 2 through the power arrow F _A is implied, this leads to the fact that the side panels 22 the holder 18 even firmer against the side walls 26 the grooves 16 create, and thus the latching projections 24 applied holding force F under load is even reinforced.

As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a connection of a retaining element to a plastic component manufactured in a molding tool which is very easy to manufacture and nevertheless extremely effective. Since the assembly is very simple, shorter cycle times can be achieved during production on the belt.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Plastic component

12

body

14

foil

16

groove

18

retaining element

20

central area

22

page sections

24

latching projections

26

Sidewalls of 16

28

openings

Claims (10)

Plastic component, in particular vehicle part, with a holding element (18) for an attachment, wherein in the plastic component (10) at least one recess (16) is formed, in which the holding element is latched, characterized in that the holding element (18) consists of a spring steel strip is made, the two ends are folded over to form latching projections (24) and a lying between the latching projections central region (20) for securing the attachment, wherein the two locking projections (24) forming ends of the metal strip are bent so that they facing each other and wherein the central region (20) of the holding element (18) in the relaxed state on the side remote from the latching projections (24) side of the central region is convexly curved, so that in the relaxed state of the holding element (18), the two the Locking projections (24) forming ends of the metal strip in walls (26) of the at least one recess (16) dig in un d exert an inwardly directed force on the between the locking projections (24) lying part of the plastic component (10). Plastic component, in particular vehicle part, with a holding element (18) for an attachment, wherein in the plastic component (10) at least one recess (16) is formed, in which the holding element is latched, characterized in that the holding element (18) consists of a spring steel strip is made, the two ends are folded over to form latching projections (24) and a lying between the latching projections central region (20) for securing the attachment, wherein the two locking projections (24) forming ends of the metal strip are bent so that they point away from each other and the central region (20) of the holding element (18) in the relaxed state on the side remote from the latching projections (24) side of the central region is concavely curved, so that in the relaxed state of the holding element (18), the two the locking projections (24) forming ends of the sheet metal strip in walls (26) of the at least one in the plastic component (10) digging formed recess (16) and exert an outward force on the walls (26). Plastic component according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the two ends of the sheet metal strip forming the holding element (18) are each bent twice by an angle of approximately 90 ° in order to form the latching projections (24). Plastic component according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a vehicle roof element. A method of attaching an attachment to a plastic component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: (A) in the plastic component (10) at least one recess (16) is formed; (B) the holding element (18) in the recess (16) is latched; and (C) the attachment is attached to the holding element (18). Method according to Claim 5 in which the plastic component (10) is made of a foam material and the recess (16) is formed in the plastic component in the course of the foaming process. Method according to Claim 5 in which the plastic component (10) is made of a foam material and the recess (16) incorporated in the foamed plastic component, for example milled, is. Method according to one of Claims 5 to 7 in which the plastic component (10) is produced by means of an LFI process (Long Fiber Injection). Method according to one of Claims 5 to 8th in which a honeycomb structure is embedded in the plastic component (10). Method according to one of Claims 5 to 9 in which in step (A) at least two grooves (16) are formed in the plastic component (10), in which in step (B) the retaining element (18) is latched.

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