DE102023130814A1 - Insulation pad - Google Patents

Abstract

Insulating pad, designed for arrangement on a flap (4) of a motor vehicle (1), wherein a cable holding means (10) designed to hold a charging cable (13) is provided.

Description

The invention relates to an insulating pad designed to be arranged on a flap of a motor vehicle.

Electric vehicles have an energy storage unit that must be regularly charged using a charging cable connected to an external power source. The charging cable is usually carried on the vehicle so that charging can be done on the go. The charging cable is usually located in an appropriately sized bag placed or laid in the trunk of the vehicle. However, this reduces the cargo volume of the trunk, which can be either a rear trunk (trunk) or a front trunk (frunk).

However, sometimes a vehicle type does not have sufficient space to create a front trunk, for example, because a drive unit is intended to be located in this area, for example in a vehicle powered by a hybrid drive or a purely electric vehicle. In order to avoid having to store the charging cable in the rear trunk of such a vehicle, for example, DE 10 2020 216 079 A1 It is known to arrange a charging cable receiving component on the vehicle body below the front flap, i.e., the hood, under which a drive unit is located. For example, it can be a rectangular frame-like component surrounding the drive unit; alternatively, a U-shaped design of the component is also conceivable. The charging cable is detachably attached to the receiving component. When the hood is opened, the charging cable is openly accessible.

The invention is based on the problem of providing a possibility for improved accommodation of a charging cable.

To solve the problem, according to the invention, an insulating pad is provided, designed for arrangement on a flap of a motor vehicle, which is characterized in that it has a cable holding means designed to hold a charging cable.

A motor vehicle hatch, beneath which, for example, a drive unit is located, is usually provided with an insulating pad, which is a large-surface component made of, for example, foamed plastic or another material. This insulating pad serves to insulate against noise and vibration and extends over a relatively large area of the inside of the hatch, for example the front hood or front hatch. It is therefore a functional element that is already provided at the factory. According to the invention, this insulating pad is equipped with a cable retaining device that makes it possible to fix the charging cable to the cable retaining device and thus to the insulating pad itself. In the installed position of the insulating pad, the charging cable, if attached to it, is therefore located directly below the front hatch and is moved with it when the front hatch is opened and pivoted upwards. In this position, the insulating pad is accessible, and so is the charging cable, which can be removed from it or reattached to it after charging. The hatch does not necessarily have to be a front-facing hatch. In the case of a motor vehicle equipped with a rear-wheel drive that is accessible via a tailgate, the insulation pad can also be located on the inside or underside of the tailgate so that the charging cable can be stowed underneath the tailgate on the insulation pad.

With regard to the specific holding of the charging cable on the cable holding means and thus the design of the cable holding means itself, different variants are conceivable. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the cable holding means can be formed via a winding groove into which the charging cable is wound. The exposed surface of the insulating layer is thus shaped such that a holding geometry is formed protruding therefrom, which has a winding groove into which the charging cable can be inserted. The winding groove can be open to the side, i.e. parallel to the surface of the insulating layer, so that the charging cable is wound into the winding groove from the side. Alternatively, the winding groove can also be open perpendicular to the surface of the insulating layer, so that the charging cable is inserted into the winding groove via an insertion movement that occurs vertically to the surface of the insulating layer.

The winding groove can be formed circumferentially on a winding projection protruding from the insulation support. This means that a winding projection, for example round, oval or rectangular, is provided on the insulation support, projecting by a few centimeters, on which the winding groove is formed at the edge. Alternatively, it is conceivable that several winding sections protruding from the insulation support are provided, each of which has a winding groove section. For example, four, six or eight such projecting winding sections are provided distributed over the surface of the insulation support, for example in a round, oval or rectangular arrangement. Each winding section has a winding groove section, whereby the winding groove sections as a whole form the winding groove. Since separate winding sections are provided in this embodiment, a helical arrangement of the winding sections is also conceivable, for example, instead of a round, oval, or rectangular arrangement, so that the charging cable can be wound in the manner of a snail or spiral, which also allows the support of longer cables. The cross-sectional geometry of the winding groove or the winding groove sections can be such that the charging cable is clamped therein, i.e., a type of locking or clamping takes place, so that the charging cable is firmly fixed therein.

As an alternative to forming a winding groove in one of the variants described above, it is conceivable to provide several locking elements into which the charging cable can be locked. Accordingly, several locking elements, designed as locking clips, for example, are provided on the insulation pad, which are formed, for example, in one piece or from a single material on the insulation pad made of a plastic material. They have corresponding locking receptacles that are open vertically to the surface of the insulation pad, into which the charging cable is locked. Instead of a one-piece or single-material formation of the locking elements on the insulation pad, it is also conceivable to arrange separate locking elements on the insulation pad. These locking elements, also made of plastic or metal, for example, are fixed to or in corresponding fastening receptacles in the insulation pad, for example corresponding openings, for example by locking or similar. These locking elements can also be distributed in different geometric arrangements, for example in a circular shape, an oval shape or in a rectangular arrangement, as well as in a helical or spiral shape. The locking elements with their locking sections are preferably open vertically to the surface of the insulation pad, so that the charging cable can be locked in place by a simple movement vertically to the surface of the insulation pad.

Finally, according to another alternative, it is conceivable for the winding groove to be formed on the outer circumference of the insulation pad. This means that the insulation pad is inherently thick enough to allow the winding groove to be formed on the outer circumference, i.e., open to the side. The accommodated charging cable thus runs around the outer circumference or outer edge of the insulation pad.

It is advantageous if additional securing means are provided for fixing the charging cable held on the cable holding means. This can provide additional security against slipping or loosening of the charging cable, which, as described, is preferably already fixed to the cable holding means in a corresponding clamping or locking manner. The securing means can, for example, comprise one or more pivoting elements, for example in the form of pivoting brackets, which can be pivoted between a release position and a securing position, wherein the pivoting elements are preferably locked in the securing position, but preferably also in the release position, i.e. cannot accidentally be released from the respective position. If the charging cable is to be removed, the securing means must first be released, i.e. the pivoting element(s) must be moved from the securing position to the release position, after which the charging cable can be removed. When stowing the charging cable, the charging cable must first be fixed to the insulating support in the cable holding means, after which the securing means, for example the pivoting elements, are returned to the securing position.

Although it is generally possible to bond the insulation pad to the inside of the flap, for example, the front flap, using an adhesive connection, an alternative design provides for one or more fastening elements to be provided on the insulation pad for detachable attachment of the insulation pad to the flap. This allows the insulation pad to be removed as needed, for example, together with the charging cable, or to be removed to conveniently attach the charging cable to it or, if necessary, to transport the insulation pad together with the charging cable. These fastening elements can, for example, be locking projections or locking receptacles, or separate fastening elements fixed to the insulation pad that interact with corresponding locking receptacles or locking projections on the flap.

To facilitate transport of the insulation pad, it is conceivable to provide a carrying handle on the pad. Using this carrying handle, the insulation pad can be easily detached from the flap, for example, by pulling on it with sufficient force, and then carried. The carrying handle also facilitates subsequent installation, since once the insulation pad is positioned, it can be removed, for example, by simply pressing the insulation pad against the flap with sufficient force using the carrying handle.

The insulation layer itself can be made of various materials. It is preferably made of a plastic, which can be foamed or unfoamed. Rigid foam is particularly suitable. The plastic design also allows for easy Design of the corresponding cable holding devices, insofar as these are designed as a single piece or made of a single material.

In addition to the insulation layer itself, the invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one flap and an insulation layer of the type described above arranged on an inner side of the flap. The flap can be a front flap or a tailgate. The inner side of the flap is the side facing the body, thus delimiting the corresponding space below the flap, in which, for example, a drive unit is provided.

One or more fasteners for detachable attachment of the insulation pad can be provided on the inside of the flap. These fasteners can be locking projections, locking receptacles, screw receptacles, or similar. This allows for detachable attachment of the insulation pad, which has suitable additional fasteners. If this is not desired, the insulation pad can also be glued to the inside.

Finally, the flap can also be designed in two parts and have a first flap part and a second flap part that is pivotably connected to it, whereby the insulating layer is arranged on the first flap part and the first flap part can be moved from a closed position to an open position independently of the second flap part. In this design, for example, the front flap is designed in two parts. If the entire space underneath is to be opened, the flap is pivoted open as a whole, creating access. Both flap parts are therefore moved. However, if only the charging cable is to be removed, it is sufficient to pivot open only the first flap part in order to access the charging cable or to stow it away again. The insulating layer is therefore only arranged on this flap part, although of course a further insulating layer, which does not have any cable holding means, can be provided on the second flap part. For the separate opening of the first flap part, corresponding unlocking means are provided, which enable separate opening and subsequent locking.

• 1 eine Prinzipdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeugs mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Dämmauflage,
• 2 eine Schnittansicht durch eine montierte Dämmauflage einer ersten Ausführungsform mit randseitig umlaufender Wickelnut,
• 3 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Dämmauflage mit einer an einem Wickelvorsprung ausgebildeten Wickelnut,
• 4 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer dritten Ausführungsform einer Dämmauflage mit einer an separaten Wickelabschnitten ausgebildeten Wickelnut,
• 5 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer vierten Ausführungsform einer Dämmauflage mit an der Dämmauflage angeformten, vorspringenden Rastelementen, und
• 6 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer fünften Ausführungsform einer Dämmauflage mit an der Dämmauflage befestigten, vorspringenden Rastelementen.

Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawings.

• 1 a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention with an insulating layer according to the invention,
• 2 a sectional view through a mounted insulation layer of a first embodiment with a circumferential winding groove on the edge,
• 3 a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of an insulating layer with a winding groove formed on a winding projection,
• 4 a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of an insulating layer with a winding groove formed on separate winding sections,
• 5 a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of an insulating pad with projecting locking elements formed on the insulating pad, and
• 6 a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of an insulating pad with projecting locking elements attached to the insulating pad.

1 shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention in a partial view. The motor vehicle 1 is shown from the front, looking at the vehicle front 2. There, a correspondingly large space 3 is provided on the body side, in which a drive unit (not shown in detail), for example an electric motor or, in the case of a hybrid vehicle, an internal combustion engine, is installed. The space 3 can be closed via a flap 4, in this case a front flap, whereby the flap 4 is open in the example shown. It can be held in the open position by a corresponding locking means arrangement 5, such as a gas pressure spring, and can be moved against the locking means arrangement 5 in a manner known per se to close it.

On the inner side 6 of the flap 4, an insulating layer 7 is detachably fastened by suitable fastening elements 8, for example locking elements such as locking pins or locking pins or the like, which can be arranged captively on the insulating layer. These fastening elements 8 are particularly suitable in 2 clearly illustrated. A carrying handle 9 is provided for easy removal and attachment of the insulation pad 7. The insulation pad 7 is preferably made of plastic, in particular of a foamed plastic.

The insulation support 7 is equipped with a cable holding means 10, which in a first embodiment is 2 is shown. 2 shows a sectional view of the insulation layer 7 mounted on the flap 4. It shows the fastening elements 8, which interact with the corresponding fastening elements 11 of the flap 4. The sectional view also clearly shows the cable holding means 10, which is designed as a winding groove 12. The winding groove 12 is formed or molded around the edge of the insulation support 7. The winding groove 12 is open to the side and serves to accommodate a charging cable 13, which according to 2 is already wound into the winding groove 12 from the side. The cross-sectional geometry of the winding groove 12 can be designed such that the charging cable 13 is held clamped therein. Instead of directly forming the winding groove 12 on the insulating pad 7 itself, it is also conceivable to attach corresponding locking elements to the edge, into which the cable is snapped. This means that with the insulating pad 7 according to the invention, the charging cable 13 can be fixed directly to the insulating pad 7 and, since the insulating pad 7 is attached to the inside 6 of the flap 4, can be stowed on the flap 4. Due to the detachability of the insulating pad 7, it is also conceivable to remove the insulating pad 7 together with the charging cable 13 and transport it, or to first remove the insulating pad 7 in order to stow the charging cable on it and then finally to fix the insulating pad 7 back to the flap 4.

Although the preferred locking or clamping of the charging cable 13 in the circumferential winding groove 12 already provides a sufficiently secure fixation of the charging cable 13, it is preferable to provide additional securing means 14 in the form of pivoting elements 15, which are pivotably attached to the insulation support 7. The pivoting elements 15 engage over the winding groove 12 and thus also the wound charging cable 13 and secure it against slipping or unintentional release. The pivoting elements 15 are preferably 2 They are appropriately locked in the locking position shown, and therefore cannot be released from the locking position. To release them, they must be manually pivoted with sufficient force into a release position in which the winding groove 12 is exposed. This release position may also be locked.

3 shows an embodiment of an insulating support 7, in which a winding projection 17 is provided projecting from a base 16 of the insulating support 7, on which the cable holding means 10 is formed in the form of a winding groove 12. It is evident that the winding groove 12 is also designed with a corresponding undercut in this embodiment, so that the charging cable 13 can again be clamped from the side in the winding groove 12.

4 shows an embodiment of the insulation pad 7, in which several separate winding sections 18 are formed projecting from the base 16 of the insulation pad 7. Each winding section 18 has a winding groove section 19, wherein the winding groove sections 19 as a whole define the winding groove 12. Here, too, the winding groove sections 19 are open to the side, so that the charging cable 13 is wound in from the side. The winding groove sections 19 are also undercut, so that the charging cable 13 is clamped into the winding groove sections 19.

An alternative embodiment of an insulating layer 7 is shown in 5 shown. There, several separate locking elements 20 are integrally formed on the insulation support 7 or its base 16, which have corresponding clamping arms 21 and define a corresponding clamping receptacle, wherein the charging cable 13 is wrapped into the locking elements 20 or the clamping receptacles and clamped in place. Here, the locking elements are open in a direction vertical to the surface of the insulation support 7, i.e., the charging cable 13 is not locked in from the side, but rather from the front.

While the design according to 5 the locking elements 20 are integrally formed on the insulation support 7, 6 An embodiment of an insulating support 7 in which the locking elements 20 are attached to the insulating support 7 as separate components. The locking elements 20, in turn, have corresponding clamping arms 21, which are arranged on a base 22, via which the respective locking element 20 is fixed in corresponding openings 23 of the insulating support 7. Here, too, the locking elements 20 are open vertically to the surface of the insulating support 7, so that the charging cable can be locked in from the front.

Although the 3 - 6 not shown in more detail, corresponding securing means 14 such as pivoting elements can of course also be provided in these embodiments.

The course of the winding groove 12 or the arrangement of the locking elements 20 can have different geometries. In the embodiment according to the 1 and 2 The insulation layer 17 has a substantially rectangular geometry, i.e., the winding groove 16, which runs around the edge, is also substantially rectangular. Alternatively, the insulation layer 7 can also be rounded or oval or have another irregular geometry. The same applies to the winding projection 17, which can also be round, oval, rectangular or polygonal. The winding sections 18 can also be positioned in different geometric arrangements, resulting in a quasi downward, oval, polygonal, etc. course of the winding groove 12. This also applies to the arrangement of the locking elements 20, which can also be in downward, oval or polygonal geometry can be provided at appropriate positions.

Finally, separate holding sections for plugs provided on the charging cable 13 can also be provided on the insulation support, on or in which the plugs can be fixed, for example, in a form-fitting manner.

QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2020 216 079 A1 [0003]

Claims (13)

Insulating pad, designed for arrangement on a flap (4) of a motor vehicle (1), characterized by a cable holding means (10) designed to hold a charging cable (13). Insulation layer according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the cable holding means (10) is formed by a winding groove (12) into which the charging cable (13) is wound. Insulation layer according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the winding groove (12) is formed circumferentially on a winding projection (17) projecting on the insulation support (7), or that a plurality of winding sections (18) projecting on the insulation support (7) are provided, on each of which a winding groove section (19) is provided, or that the winding groove (12) is formed on the outer circumference of the insulation support (7). Insulation layer according to Claim 1 , characterized in that several locking elements (20) are provided, in which the charging cable (13) can be locked. Insulating pad according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that securing means (14) are provided for fixing the charging cable (13) held on the cable holding means (10). Insulation layer according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the securing means (14) comprise one or more pivoting elements (15) which can be pivoted between a release position and a securing position. Insulation layer according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the pivoting elements (15) are locked in the securing position, preferably also in the release position. Insulating pad according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more fastening elements (8) are provided for releasably fastening the insulating pad (7) to the flap (4). Insulating pad according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a carrying handle (9) is provided. Insulating pad according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of unfoamed or foamed plastic, in particular a rigid foam material Motor vehicle, comprising at least one flap (4) and an insulating layer (7) arranged on an inner side of the flap (4) according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle according to Claim 11 , characterized in that one or more fastening elements (11) for releasably fastening the insulation layer (7) are provided on the inner side (4). Motor vehicle according to Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the flap (4) is in two parts and has a first flap part and a second flap part pivotably connected thereto, wherein the insulating support (7) is arranged on the first flap part and the first flap part can be brought from a closed position into an open position independently of the second flap part.

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