Panel assembly for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A panel assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first panel element and a second panel element that is connected to the first panel element. The first panel element has a fastening extension that is connected to a receiving section on the second panel element by way of a connector. The fastening extension further has a latch that is to interlock with a locking opening in the receiving section of the second panel element.

Claims

1. A trim panel arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising: a first trim panel element having a fastening projection; a second trim panel element having a receiving section, wherein the first trim panel element with the fastening projection is connectable via a connector to the receiving section configured on the second trim panel element, and the fastening projection of the first trim panel element comprises a latching lug that engagedly latches into a latching opening configured in the receiving section of the second trim panel element.

2. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening projection is arranged on a rear side of the first trim panel element, which rear side faces away from an outer visible side.

3. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastening projection and the receiving section each have a through opening for receiving the connector.

4. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiving section comprises an indentation in the second trim panel element, the latching opening is configured in a lateral wall of the indentation, and the through opening of the receiving section is configured in a bottom section of the indentation.

5. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening projection and the receiving section each have a through opening for receiving the connector.

6. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a screw or a rivet.

7. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching opening fixes the latching lug at least in a push-in direction.

8. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the latching opening has a greater width in a lateral direction which is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the push-in direction than a width of the latching lug.

9. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and/or second trim panel element comprises at least one stop which defines a position of the latching lug, in which the latching lug is pushed in completely in the push-in direction.

10. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein a stop of the at least one stop is arranged on the latching lug and/or spaced apart from the latching lug.

11. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is a motorcycle.

12. The trim panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is one of a scooter, a motor scooter, a quad or trike vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a trim panel arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a first trim panel element for a trim panel arrangement according to FIG. 1, in a perspective view.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a second trim panel element for the trim panel arrangement according to FIG. 1, in a perspective view.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the first and second trim panel elements for the trim panel arrangement according to FIG. 1 in the assembled state, in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a trim panel arrangement 10 for a motor vehicle, which trim panel arrangement 10 includes a first trim panel element 11 and a second trim panel element 12 which is connected to the first trim panel element 11. The first trim panel element 11 in turn has a fastening projection 13 which is arranged on a rear side 15 of the first trim panel element 11, which rear side 15 faces away from an outer visible side 14, and is connected by way of a connector 16 which is configured as a screw to a receiving section 17 which is configured on the second trim panel element 12. To this end, the fastening projection 13 and the receiving section 17 in each case have a through opening 13a, 17a which are provided such that they are oriented flush with respect to one another in order to receive the connector 16. The connector may be, for example, a screw 16 which engages into a nut, in particular a plug-in nut. It goes without saying, however, that other connectors can also be used, for example a rivet.

(6) The fastening projection 13 has a latching lug 13b which is configured as a tongue and engages in a latching manner into a latching opening 17b of the second trim panel element 12, which latching opening 17b is configured in the receiving section 17, as a result of which a latching connection of the two trim panel elements 11, 12 to one another is established. The through opening of the first trim panel element 11 is arranged adjacently with respect to the latching lug 13b or with respect to its root region.

(7) FIG. 2 shows the first trim panel element 11 for the trim panel arrangement 10 which is shown in FIG. 1, separately and in a perspective view.

(8) The second trim panel element 12 is likewise depicted separately and in a perspective view in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the receiving section 17 has an indentation 18 in the second trim panel element 12. The latching opening 17b is configured in a lateral wall 18a of the indentation 18, and the through opening 17a of the receiving section 17 is configured in a bottom section 18b of the indentation 18.

(9) This embodiment makes it possible that the latching opening 17b fixes the latching lug 13b at least in a push-in direction E, by the latching lug 13b engaging behind an edge section 17c which delimits the latching opening 17b, and therefore prevents the latching lug 13b from being released from said engagement counter to the push-in direction E.

(10) In addition, the latching opening 17b can be of wider configuration in a lateral direction S which is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the push-in direction E than the latching lug. This means that the corresponding width b1 of the latching lug 13b is smaller than a width b2 of the latching opening 13b. In FIG. 1, the lateral direction S is oriented, for example, perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the drawing, with the result that a relative movement of the two trim panel elements 11, 12 in order to compensate for tolerances is possible to a certain extent, at least as long as the connector 16 permits this and the two trim panel elements 11, 12 are not yet fixed completely.

(11) The first 11 and/or the second trim panel element 12 can merely optionally include at least one stop which defines a position of the latching lug 13b, in which it is pushed in completely in the push-in direction E. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, a stop 20 of the at least one stop is arranged directly on the latching lug 13b or in its root region.

(12) FIG. 4 shows the first 11 and second trim panel element 12 for the trim panel arrangement 10 which is described with respect to FIG. 1, in the assembled state in a perspective view before the connector 16 is inserted.

(13) The trim panel arrangement 10 can fundamentally be provided for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motorcycle or a vehicle which is similar to a motorcycle, in particular a scooter, a two-wheel, three-wheel or four-wheel motor scooter, a quad or a trike.

(14) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.