Rear trim strip for a motor vehicle, and a method for the production of a rear trim strip

• US 9,744,919 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schtz, Heiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Coughlin, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cattanach, Colin
• Application Number:
  US13/602,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20130058120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 362496
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear trim strip for a motor vehicle, having at least one base support and at least one luminous body which is arranged on an opening of the base support in order to illuminate the outer area of the motor vehicle, having an actuating element arranged on the base support, wherein a switch can be actuated by means of said actuating element, whereby it is possible to activate a lock on the motor vehicle, such that a lid is attached on the base support, the lid is designed having an electronics board which projects into the base support, wherein an electronic device, including the switch, is arranged on said electronics board, and the lid is designed in such a manner that a reliable transmission of force takes place through the electronics board when the actuating element is actuated.

Claims

1. A rear trim strip for a motor vehicle, the rear trim strip comprising:

at least one base support and at least one luminous body which is arranged on an opening of the base support to illuminate an outer area of the motor vehicle,

an actuating element arranged on the base support and adapted to actuate a switch to activate a lock on the motor vehicle, wherein

a lid is attached on the base support, the lid comprises an electronics board, wherein the electronics board projects into the base support and comprises at least one bearing element for the actuating element, the actuating element being rotatably locked to the bearing element via a locking element, and an electronic device having the switch is arranged on the electronics board, and

the lid is designed in such a manner that a transmission of force through the electronics board takes place upon an actuation of the actuating element, and

wherein the base support is a two-component injection molded part, and the base support has a soft component which runs along the base support, wherein the soft component is configured to prevent the entrance of environmental influences between the base support and the motor vehicle,

wherein the soft component is arranged on the side of the base support which faces the motor vehicle, such that at least a closed contour or a closed profile of the soft component is created, and the soft component is in contact with the vehicle body, and

wherein the switch is located between a first stop element and a second stop element, the first stop element and the second stop element are arranged on the electronics board.

2. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the lid is sealed on the base support in such a manner that the electronic device is sealed.

3. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the electronics board has an output line which is connected to a motor vehicle on-board power supply, and a line which leads to the luminous body.

4. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the first stop element and the second stop element are configured to prevent damage to the switch when the actuating element is actuated.

5. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is configured to provide the user with tactile feedback along an entire surface of the actuating element accessible from an exterior of the rear trim strip.

6. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein multiple attachment areas are included on the base support which serve to attach the base support to the motor vehicle, wherein each attachment area comprises a soft component.

7. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the base support and/or the lid has an attachment interface for the attachment of a camera.

8. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the base support has cavities which are connected to each other, and a line runs in the cavities and connects the electronic device to the luminous body.

9. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the base support is configured to be attached to a panel of the motor vehicle.

10. A rear trim strip according to claim 1, wherein the lid has at least one arm which closes off cavities.

13. A rear trim strip according to claim 6, wherein each attachment area comprises a soft component.

11. A method for the production of a rear trim strip for a motor vehicle, the rear trim strip having:

at least one base support and at least one luminous body which is arranged on an opening of the base support to illuminate an outer area of the motor vehicle, an actuating element arranged on the base support and adapted to actuate a switch to activate a lock on the motor vehicle,

the method having the following steps;

a) sheathing of the base support and of the actuating element with a soft component, such that the base support and the actuating element form an assembly unit,

b) attachment of the actuating element on a lid having an electronics board, wherein the electronics board comprises at least one bearing element for the actuating element, the actuating element being rotatably locked to the bearing element via a locking element, and wherein the electronics board carries an electronic device having the switch, and wherein the switch is located between a first stop element and a second stop element, the first stop element and the second stop element are arranged on the electronics board,

c) sealing of the lid on the base support, such that the electronic device is sealed,

wherein the base support is a two-component injection molded part, and the base support has a soft component which runs along the base support, wherein the soft component is configured to prevent the entrance of environmental influences between the base support and the motor vehicle, and

wherein the soft component is arranged on the side of the base support which faces the motor vehicle, such that at least a closed contour or a closed profile of the soft component is created.

12. A rear trim strip for a motor vehicle, the rear trim strip comprising:

at least one base support and at least one luminous body which is arranged on an opening of the base support to illuminate an outer area of the motor vehicle, an actuating element arranged on the base support and adapted to actuate a switch to activate a lock on the motor vehicle,

wherein

a lid is attached on the base support, the lid comprises an electronics board which projects into the base support,

wherein the electronics board comprises at least one bearing element for the actuating element, the actuating element being rotatably locked to the bearing element via a locking element, wherein an electronic device having the switch is arranged on the electronics board, and

the lid is designed in such a manner that a transmission of force through the electronics board takes place upon an actuation of the actuating element, and

wherein

the base support is a two-component injection molded part, and the base support has a soft component which runs along the base support, wherein the soft component is configured to prevent the entrance of environmental influences between the base support and the motor vehicle, and

wherein the soft component is arranged on the side of the base support which faces the motor vehicle, such that at least a closed contour or a closed profile of the soft component is created, and the soft component is in contact with the vehicle body,

wherein the bearing element of the electronics board comprises a first bearing element and a second bearing element configured to fix the actuating element, and wherein each of the bearing elements comprises a locking element which engages the inner side of the actuating element.