Break-out element for a module support, which is designed as a wet/dry area separation, of a door or flap of a motor vehicle

Abstract

It is provided a break-out element for a module support, which is designed as a wet/dry area separation, of a door or flap of a motor vehicle, wherein the break-out element is integrally connected to the adjacent material of the module support via at least one region of weakness of lesser material thickness, and wherein the region of weakness acts as a predetermined breaking point and forms at least part of the edge of an access opening. The break-out element is in the shape of a cup, wherein the region of weakness is arranged between the free edge of an edge-side cup ring and the base of the cup.

Claims

1. A break-out element for a module support, which is designed as a wet/dry area separation, of a door or flap of a motor vehicle, wherein the break-out element is integrally connected to the adjacent material of the module support via at least one region of weakness of lesser material thickness, and wherein the region of weakness acts as a predetermined breaking point and forms at least part of the edge of an access opening, wherein the break-out element is in the shape of a cup, wherein the region of weakness is arranged between the free edge of an edge-side cup ring and the base of the cup.

2. The break-out element as claimed in claim 1, wherein that region of the cup-shaped break-out element which protrudes over the module support is designed as an actuating ring in such a manner that the latter provides an engagement surface suitable for a tool.

3. The break-out element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge-side cup ring of the cup-shaped contour of the break-out element is adjoined by radially inwardly projecting step which merges into a base-side cup ring of smaller diameter.

4. The break-out element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base-side cup ring at least partially protrudes beyond the adjacent plane of the module support in the direction of the wet area side.

5. The break-out element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the region of weakness and therefore the attachment of the cup to the module support takes place at the outer edge of the actuating ring which converges with the contour of the step, wherein a channel is formed which is bounded by an inner hole edge of the module support by a wall of the step facing the wet area side, and by an outwardly facing wall of the base-side cup ring.

6. The break-out element as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffening structure formed from radially directed ribs is arranged in the interior of the cup.

7. The break-out element as claimed in claim 1, wherein an additional flow region for the transport of the plastics melt is provided between the cup and the module support.

8. The break-out element as claimed in claim 7, wherein the additional flow region for the transport of the plastics melt is provided between at least one rib and the module support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a break-out element integrated integrally in a base (module support).

(2) FIG. 2a shows a top view of the break-out element according to FIG. 1 from the dry area side.

(3) FIG. 2b shows the side view of the break-out element according to FIG. 1 with a module support.

(4) FIG. 2c shows a top view of the break-out element according to FIG. 1 from the wet area side.

(5) FIG. 3a shows a sectional illustration of the break-out element between the ribs.

(6) FIG. 3b shows a sectional illustration of the break-out element through two opposite ribs and flow regions placed there with the plastics melt.

(7) FIG. 4 shows a top view of a break-out element which is deformed and is thereby partially detached from the module support.

(8) FIG. 5a shows a sectional illustration of a detail of break-out element and module support in the region of the predetermined breaking point (region of weakness) before tearing.

(9) FIG. 5b shows a sectional illustration of break-out element and module support in the region of the predetermined breaking point (region of weakness) at the moment of tearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) The break-out element 1 which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is integrated in the module support 2 has a rotationally symmetrical structure (apart from its stiffening ribs 14 lying inside the cup). As a result, a tool, preferably a pair of pliers, can be attached as desired to the outer contour in order to break out the break-out element at the outer structure formed by the actuating ring 10. The stiffening ribs 14 first of all provide the actuating ring with sufficient strength necessary for the transmission of the tearing forces in the region of weakness 21. Secondly, the radially oriented ribs 14 ensure that the break-out element 1 can be sufficiently deformed from the dry area side.

(11) In order to be able to transmit the force necessary for separating the break-out element in a safe and easily handleable manner even in the case of thicker wall thicknesses in the region of the predetermined breaking point (region of weakness 21), a multi-stage, in particular two-stage cup contour has proven successful. In this case, the edge-side cup ring 10a of the cup-shaped contour is adjoined by a radially inwardly projecting step 11 which merges into a base-side cup ring 12 of smaller diameter. The base-side cup ring 12 finally ends in the base 13 of the cup contour, wherein the base 13 protrudes over the adjacent plane of the module support 2 in the direction of the wet area side. This configuration can thus be seen in the overall view of FIGS. 2a to 3b.

(12) In the case of the two-stage, cup-shaped design of the break-out element 1 that is illustrated, it is particularly advantageous if the region of weakness 21 and therefore the attachment of the cup 1 to the module support 2 takes place at the outer edge of the actuating ring 10 which converges with the contour of the step 11. A channel 15 which runs in the circumferential direction is therefore formed, the channel providing the freedom of movement necessary for the flexing deformation of that region of the break-out element 1 which is located above the base 13.

(13) According to the present embodiment (see FIG. 2b in conjunction with FIGS. 3a and 3b), the encircling channel 15 is interrupted in the planes by two ribs 14 and is therefore directly connected to the adjacent module support 2. These connections constitute flow regions 14a through which the plastics melt can flow for building up the structure of the break-out element 1. Flow regions of this type are especially expedient whenever plastics melts having high fiber content and limited flowability are used, for which the very thin-walled region of weakness 21 would be possible only with difficulty.

(14) FIG. 4 schematically shows how, under the action of radially acting actuating forces F, the break-out element 1 has been detached at the upper and lower edge such that parts of the hole edge 20 of the module carrier 2, including a sickle-shaped hole opening, already become visible. With manual repositioning of the pair of pliers and action on the lateral regions of the break-out element 1, the connections still remaining would be detached from the module support 2 and the break-out element could be removed in order to open up the service opening 200.

(15) The schematic sectional illustrations of FIGS. 5a and 5b show the region of weakness 21 before the action of a radial tearing-off force and during the action of the tearing-off force at the moment of the tearing off of the relevant cup-shaped region 1 from the module support 2, wherein the material in the region of weakness is subjected above all to a shearing stress.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(16) 1 Break-out element; cup 10 Actuating ring 10a Edge-side cup ring 11 Step 12 Base-side cup ring 13 Base 14 Rib 14a Flow region for plastics melt 15 Channel 2 Module support 20 Hole edge 21 Region of weakness (predetermined breaking point) 200 Hole opening F Actuating force (radially acting)