Abstract
A vehicle component, in particular an arm rest, includes a structural part and a cladding element that at least partially surrounds the structural part. The structural part is at least partially covered by a protective device.
Claims
1. A vehicle component comprising: a structural part; a protective apparatus; and a trim element which surrounds the structural part at least partially, wherein the structural part is covered at least partially by the protective apparatus.
2. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structural part is arranged completely within the trim element.
3. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective apparatus is arranged directly on the structural part.
4. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective apparatus has an at least partially bent and/or curved outer contour.
5. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective apparatus covers an edge, a burr and/or a punching burr of the structural part.
6. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective apparatus is of a sleeve-shaped configuration.
7. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sleeve-shaped protective apparatus has a receptacle, within which a part of the structural part is arranged with an accurate fit in a mounted state.
8. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer side of the protective apparatus has a contour profile in a shape of a partial circle with a radius which is greater than 3.2 mm or corresponds to 3.2 mm.
9. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structural part comprises at least one tubular part component, the protective apparatus is arranged on an end side on the tubular part component and/or is placed onto the tubular part component as a termination element.
10. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filling element, wherein the structural part is spaced apart from the trim element, and the filling element, is arranged between the trim element and the structural part.
11. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structural part is produced from a metal and/or the protective apparatus is produced from a plastic.
12. A method for producing a vehicle component comprising a structural part, a protective apparatus, and a trim element which surrounds the structural part at least partially, wherein the structural part is covered at least partially by the protective apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: providing the structural part; covering a region of the structural part by the protective apparatus; and encasing the structural part, which is covered by the protective apparatus, by the trim element.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, a filling element, preferably a foam-like filling element, such as for example PU foam, being embedded between the trim element and the structural part in a fourth method step.
14. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is an armrest with an armrest pivot end and an armrest extended end.
15. The vehicle component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the filling element comprises a PU foam.
16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the structural part comprises a metallic structural part; and the protective apparatus is formed of plastic.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] In the drawings:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a vehicle component according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in a dismantled state; and
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of a vehicle component according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a mounted state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to the drawings, in the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same designations and are therefore also as a rule named or mentioned in each case only once.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a part of a vehicle component according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a dismantled state. The vehicle component is, in particular, a pivotable armrest which is, for example, a part of a center console and/or a backrest. In particular, the vehicle component comprises a (preferably metallic) structural part 2 which is surrounded or encapsulated by a trim element (not shown here). A foam-like filling element (not shown here), in particular a PU foam, is preferably arranged between the structural part 2 and the trim element for cushioning and shaping purposes. It is preferably provided that the vehicle component is produced by way of a “pour in place” process, that is to say the filling element is embedded or injected in liquid form between the structural part 2 and the trim element, and the filling element assumes its final shape by way of a subsequent polymerization and thus finally defines the shape for the vehicle component. Here, the structural part 2 is arranged, in particular, within the trim or the filling element. In the embodiment which is shown, the structural part 2 comprises two tubular part components 6 which are welded onto one another and are fused to one another along their longitudinal side. It is also conceivable that a plurality of tubular part components 6 are connected to one another in an integrally joined manner. In particular, the tubular part components 6 are fused to one another on their underside. It is preferably provided here that a welded seam which is produced by way of the welding operation is not accessible for a ball with a diameter of 165 mm. In particular, the two tubular part components which are welded together form a type of double tube. It is provided, furthermore, that said double tube is welded onto a shank 1 by way of one of its end sides, in particular in a connecting region 3, the shank 1, for example in the case of the armrest, forming a rotational axis for pivoting the armrest. The double tube has an opening region 4 in a manner which lies opposite the connecting region 3. The edges which can be found in the opening region 4 can form a source of danger in an accident situation and are therefore to be rounded. It is provided here, in particular, that a protective apparatus 5 trims the opening region 4, the protective apparatus 5 ensuring, by way of its at least partially rounded outer side, the desired rounded nature in the edge region of the structural part 2. To this end, the protective apparatus 5 is preferably of sleeve-shaped configuration, the sleeve-shaped protective apparatus having a receptacle which is of complementary configuration with respect to the structural part 2 and in which the end side of the structural part 2 is preferably arranged with an accurate fit in the mounted state. In the manner of a key/lock principle, the sleeve-shaped protective apparatus 5 can then be placed or pushed onto the structural part 2 in such a way that, in the mounted state, the protective apparatus 5 closes off the structural part 2 on its end side, in particular forms a cap-like termination. It is provided here, furthermore, that an outer contour of the protective apparatus 5 is configured at least partially in the form of a partial circle, that is to say an outer circumference a sectional face through the protective apparatus 5 is at least partially in the form of a partial circle. In particular, a region of the protective apparatus 5 in the form of a partial circle is assigned a radius which is greater than 3.2 mm. As a result, a flattened nature can be achieved in the opening region 4 of the structural part 2, by way of which flattened nature the risk of injury as a result of the structural part 5 is advantageously reduced in the event of an accident.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a part of a vehicle component according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a mounted state. Here, the protective apparatus 5 is pushed onto one of the end sides 2 and covers the edge region which would otherwise be exposed. It is conceivable, furthermore, that the protective apparatus 5 is connected to the structural part 2 in an integrally joined, positively locking and/or non-positive manner. For example, after having been pushed on, the protective apparatus 5 is welded to the structural part 2, or the protective apparatus 5 is clipped to the structural part 2.
[0026] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
