PROTECTIVE CAP FOR PARTIALLY COVERING A PRE-ASSEMBLED OR FULLY ASSEMBLED VEHICLE COMPONENT

Abstract

A protective cap (1, 9, 12) for the partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component (11). The protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A protective cap for partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component (1), wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material.

12. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from one of a biologically degradable, a compostable and/or a recyclable raw material.

13. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from one of a cast-fiber material and/or a cellulose material.

14. The protective cap according to claim 13, wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made by a casting process.

15. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials: a fiber material, and/or pulp or cellulose, and/or a biopolymer, and/or palm leaves, and/or bagasse.

16. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials: a fiber material based on hay, straw or hemp, and/or pulp or cellulose based on carton, cardboard or paper, and/or a polyacid polymer or polyhydroxyalkanoate or polyhydroxy-fatty acids, and/or palm leaves, and/or bagasse.

17. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein at least one additive is mixed with the raw material in order to modify at least one material property, and, by virtue of the at least one additive, a wear resistance, a sliding friction properties, the lubricity, a humidity resistance, a heat resistance and/or a flame resistance of the raw material is/are improved.

18. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein at least one of an outer surface (6, 7) and/or an inner surface of the protective cap (1, 9, 12) has a covering layer.

19. The protective cap according to claim 18, wherein the covering layer is hardened.

20. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein each protective cap has a contour by virtue of which a plurality of protective caps (1, 9, 12) can be stacked one above another.

21. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap is designed as a ball joint protective cap for the protection of a pre-fitted or fully fitted ball joint (11).

22. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap has a wall thickness in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm.

23. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap has a wall thickness of 2 mm.

24. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap comprises at least one section (2, 3) with a funnel-shaped or a conical outer surface (6, 7) which is inclined relative to a central longitudinal axis (4) of the protective cap (1, 9, 12) by an angle in a range of 6° to 10°.

25. The protective cap according to claim 24, wherein the funnel-shaped or the conical outer surface (6, 7) is inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis (4) of the protective cap (1, 9, 12) by an angle of 8°.

26. The protective cap according to claim 11, wherein the protective cap comprises at least two sections (2, 3) which are a funnel-shaped or a conical outer surface (6, 7) which is inclined relative to a central longitudinal axis (4) of the protective cap (1, 9, 12) by an angle in a range of 6° to 10°.

27. The protective cap according to claim 26, wherein the funnel-shaped or the conical outer surface (6, 7) is inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis (4) of the protective cap (1, 9, 12) by an angle of 8°.

28. A protective cap for partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component (1), wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material; each protective cap has a contour by virtue of which a plurality of protective caps (1, 9, 12) can be stacked one above another; and at least one additive is mixed with the raw material in order to modify at least one material property, and, by virtue of the at least one additive, a wear resistance, a sliding friction properties, the lubricity, a humidity resistance, a heat resistance and/or a flame resistance of the raw material is/are improved.

29. The protective cap according to claim 28, wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials: a fiber material, and/or pulp or cellulose, and/or a biopolymer, and/or palm leaves, and/or bagasse.

30. A protective cap for partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component (1), wherein the protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material; at least one additive is mixed with the raw material in order to modify at least one material property, and, by virtue of the at least one additive, a wear resistance, a sliding friction properties, the lubricity, a humidity resistance, a heat resistance and/or a flame resistance of the raw material is/are improved; the protective cap has a wall thickness in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm; and the protective cap comprises at least one section (2, 3) with a funnel-shaped or a conical outer surface (6, 7) which is inclined relative to a central longitudinal axis (4) of the protective cap (1, 9, 12) by an angle in a range of 6° to 10°; and by virtue of the funnel-shaped or the conical outer surface (6, 7), a plurality of protective caps (1, 9, 12) can be stacked one above another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Below, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which the same indexes denote the same or functionally equivalent components or elements. The figures show:

[0025] FIG. 1: A side-view of a protective cap according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 2: A perspective side-view of a chassis component with a protective cap according to the invention, and

[0027] FIG. 3: A side-view of a further protective cap according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a side-view of a protective cap 1 according to the invention. In this example embodiment, the protective cap 1 is designed as a ball joint protective cap for the protection of a pre-fitted or fully fitted ball joint (not shown in more detail here). In this example embodiment, the protective cap 1 is made from a renewable raw material. For example, the protective cap 1 is made from a cellulose material based on recycled paper, formed from cardboard, pulp or paper. In this way, the protective cap 1 can be recycled after its use, in a particularly environmentally friendly manner.

[0029] The protective cap 1 is of hollow design and has a first section 2 and a second section 3. In this case, the first section 2 is designed to cover a sealing bellows of a ball joint (not shown here). The second section 3 is designed to cover part of a ball stud of the ball joint (not shown here). The first section 2 and the second section 3 merge into one another. In this case, the first section 2 and the second section 3 are arranged one after the other in the axial direction of a central longitudinal axis 4.

[0030] The first section 2 has a larger outer diameter than the second section 3. Furthermore, in this example embodiment, the second section 3 is ribbed around its outer circumference, with a plurality of ribs 5 extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis 4. For greater clarity, not all the ribs 5 are indexed. The ribs 5 can improve the rigidity and/or load-bearing capacity of the protective cap 1.

[0031] Particularly in the area of the first section 2 and the second section 3, the protective cap 1 has a wall thickness of 2 mm. The first section 2 has an outer surface 6 which, in this example embodiment, is inclined at an angle of 8° relative to the central longitudinal axis 4. In this example embodiment, the second section 3 has an outer envelope surface or outer surface 7 which, in this example embodiment, is also inclined at an angle of 8° relative to the central longitudinal axis 4. Accordingly, a contour or outer contour of overall funnel or conical shape is obtained, such that several protective caps 1 can be stacked one above another.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of a chassis component 8 with a protective cap 9, according to the invention. In this example embodiment, the chassis component 8 is in the form of a control arm. In this example embodiment, the chassis component 8 comprises a tubular connecting element 10. At the two free ends of the connecting element 10 are fitted, in each case, a vehicle component designed as a ball joint 11. The ball joint 11 is in the form of a ball-and-socket joint.

[0033] The two ball joints 11 are, in each case, partially covered by a protective cap 9. Here, a sealing bellows of the respective ball joint 11 is covered by the first section 2 of the respective protective cap 9. A ball-stud part of the respective ball joint 11 is covered by the second section 3 of the respective protective cap 9.

[0034] Alternatively to the embodiment shown here, the protective cap 9 can be designed in accordance with the protective cap 1 in FIG. 1. The essential requirement is that the protective cap 9 is made from a biogenic and/or renewable material.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a further protective cap 12 according to the invention. The structure of the protective cap 12 corresponds essentially to that of the protective cap 1 in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the same features are denoted by the same indexes and to avoid repetitions reference should be made to the previous description.

[0036] It can be seen clearly that, in this example embodiment, the second section 3 of the protective cap 12 has a wall which follows a meandering course. When seen from above in the axial direction of the central longitudinal axis 4, this results in a star-like contour of the wall of the second section 3.

INDEXES

[0037] 1 Protective cap [0038] 2 First section [0039] 3 Second section [0040] 4 Central longitudinal axis [0041] 5 Rib [0042] 6 Outer surface [0043] 7 Outer surface [0044] 8 Chassis component [0045] 9 Protective cap [0046] 10 Connecting element [0047] 11 Vehicle component/ball joint [0048] 12 Protective cap