Rear spoiler for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A rear spoiler body affecting flow around the vehicle is provided with a recess for accommodating at least one antenna of the motor vehicle on which the rear spoiler body is mounted. Provision is made in or on the rear spoiler body for fastening the at least one antenna, such as a screw hole, unpainted surface to accept an adhesive, etc.

Claims

1. A rear spoiler for a motor vehicle having a vehicle body and at least one antenna, comprising: a rear spoiler body influencing a flow around the motor vehicle when installed, the rear spoiler body having, on a surface, a recess and a measure for fastening the at least one antenna of the motor vehicle, the recess provided on a side of the rear spoiler body facing the vehicle body and, with the rear spoiler body in an installed position, the vehicle body and the rear spoiler body together forming a cavity in which the antenna is accommodated.

2. The rear spoiler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measure for fastening the antenna is a fastening element configured as part of a clip connection.

3. The rear spoiler as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

4. The rear spoiler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measure for fastening the antenna is configured, in preparation to adhesively bond the antenna to the rear spoiler body in the recess, as at least one of a protective film, an unpainted partial region of the surface of the rear spoiler body and a grease-free partial region of the surface of the rear spoiler body.

5. The rear spoiler as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

6. The rear spoiler as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

7. A rear spoiler system for a motor vehicle having a vehicle body, comprising: a rear spoiler having a rear spoiler body influencing a flow around the motor vehicle when installed, the rear spoiler body having a recess on a surface facing the vehicle body; and an antenna fastened to the rear spoiler body and accommodated in a cavity formed by the vehicle body and the recess in the rear spoiler body with the rear spoiler body in an installed position.

8. The rear spoiler system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the measure for fastening the antenna is a fastening element configured as part of a clip connection.

9. The rear spoiler system as claimed in claim 8, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

10. The rear spoiler system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the measure for fastening the antenna is configured, in preparation to adhesively bond the antenna to the rear spoiler body in the recess, as at least one of a protective film, an unpainted partial region of the surface of the rear spoiler body and a grease-free partial region of the surface of the rear spoiler body.

11. The rear spoiler system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

12. The rear spoiler system as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

13. A motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; a rear spoiler system including a rear spoiler with a rear spoiler body influencing a flow around the motor vehicle, the rear spoiler body having a recess on a surface facing the vehicle body; and an antenna fastened to the rear spoiler body and accommodated in a cavity formed by the vehicle body and the recess in the rear spoiler body.

14. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: an interior; a grommet sealing the vehicle body; a transceiver device in the interior of the motor vehicle; and a connecting line connecting the transceiver device and the antenna and passing through the vehicle body via the grommet sealing the vehicle body.

15. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connecting line is connected to the transceiver device by a waterproof plug.

16. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the measure for fastening the antenna is a fastening element configured as part of a clip connection.

17. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein, in the installed position of the rear spoiler body on the motor vehicle, the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

18. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the recess is accessible to mount the antenna in the recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and details emerge from the description below of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features which are mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or are solely shown in the figures are usable not only in the respectively stated combination, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the invention.

(2) In the drawing:

(3) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a motor vehicle with a rear spoiler and an antenna according to the related art;

(4) FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of a motor vehicle with a rear spoiler and an antenna according to the related art; and

(5) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a motor vehicle with a rear spoiler and an antenna.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a schematic sectional view of part of a rear of a motor vehicle 10 according to the related art. At a roof edge 12 which is at the top in the vertical direction of the vehicle and is at the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a rear spoiler 16 according to the related art, which is substantially formed from a rear spoiler body 18, is in each case connected here to a vehicle body 14. The rear spoiler body 18 is, for example, a component which is made from plastic and is screwed to the vehicle body 14. The rear spoiler body 18 adjoins a roof 20 of the motor vehicle 10 in a substantially flush manner here. The rear spoiler body 18 is shaped in such a manner that, during forward travel of the motor vehicle 10, it influences the flow of air around the vehicle. As a result, in particular an aerodynamic improvement of the motor vehicle 10 is intended to be brought about, for example by downforce being increased. Alternatively, however, the rear spoiler body 18 can also serve primarily as a decorative part for achieving a certain visual appearance of the motor vehicle 10.

(8) The number of antennas to be installed in motor vehicles is constantly increasing because of new services and increasing demands made on the quality and data rate of wireless services of a motor vehicle 10. This can lead, for example, to six to seven antennas being positioned in a manner spaced apart from one another on a motor vehicle. Typical positionings here are, for example, in respective bumpers and on the roof of the motor vehicle 10. The performance of an antenna is dependent, inter alia, on the package thereof on the motor vehicle 10. An antenna positioned in the interior typically has a poorer performance than an externally positioned antenna. Furthermore, better performance is typically obtained when antennas are positioned higher. For example, an antenna on a roof of the motor vehicle 10 has radiating characteristics that are less directional than in a bumper.

(9) The two FIGS. 1 and 2, here show two variants of an antenna 22 on the motor vehicle 10. In the variant according to FIG. 1, the antenna 22 is arranged below the rear spoiler body 18 in a recess 24 of the vehicle body 14. As a result, however, construction space is taken up in an interior of the motor vehicle 10. In particular, a maximum head room in the interior of the motor vehicle 10 is thereby reduced by the inwardly projecting bulge of the vehicle body 14 because of the recess 24.

(10) By contrast, in the variant according to FIG. 2, the antenna 22 is integrated in a cavity of the rear spoiler body 18. However, such an arrangement of the antenna 22 in the rear spoiler body 18 causes considerable additional costs and an increased outlay on logistics. In this case, the antenna 22 has to be produced together with the rear spoiler body 18. As a result, it is no longer possible to install or not to install the antenna 22 depending on requirements. The decision as to whether the antenna 22 is to be installed can no longer be undertaken, for example, during the mounting of the rear spoiler body 18 on the vehicle body 14 on the assembly line, but rather already has to be undertaken during the assembly of the rear spoiler body 18 itself. Secondly, at least an at least partial removal of the rear spoiler body 18 for the fitting of the antenna 22 is necessary.

(11) These disadvantages do not occur in the motor vehicle 40 described herein with the rear spoiler 41, part of which is shown in the schematic sectional view in FIG. 3. The vehicle body 42 of the motor vehicle 40 does not have a recess for an antenna. As a result, the vehicle body 42 can be produced particularly cost-effectively and head room in an interior of the motor vehicle 40 is not restricted. It is also unnecessary to already integrate an antenna previously in a rear spoiler body 44 of the rear spoiler 41.

(12) Instead, the rear spoiler body 44 has a recess 46 for accommodating the antenna 48. As a result, an antenna 48 can be integrated from the outside in the rear spoiler 41, which is substantially formed by the rear spoiler body 44. In addition, the rear spoiler body 44 has a measure 50 for fastening the antenna 48, the measure being designed here, for example, as a fastening element, in particular part of a clip connection for fastening the antenna 48 in the recess 46. The rear spoiler body 44 can therefore already be completely assembled as a supplier part and/or supplied painted for final assembly of the motor vehicle 40. A decision can then be taken just before the final mounting of the rear spoiler body 44 on the vehicle body 42 as to whether the antenna 48 is to be installed. As a result, corresponding logistics are particularly simple and flexible, and the motor vehicle 40 can be produced particularly cost-effectively.

(13) Respective engagements and structural changes of the rear spoiler body 44 are arranged here in a region not visible to customers. For example, the recess 46 is arranged on a side 52 facing the vehicle body 42 in the installed position of the rear spoiler body 44. As a result, the antenna 48 is covered by the rear spoiler body 44 without further trim panels. In addition, the antenna 48 is thus at least partially protected by the rear spoiler body 44 against environmental influences.

(14) Use can therefore be made of the good antenna position in the rear spoiler 41. It is not necessary for this purpose to already take into consideration during the production or during the assembly of the rear spoiler body 44 whether the antenna 48 is to be installed in the final motor vehicle 40.

(15) By arranging the antenna 48 in the recess 46, the antenna is also at a particularly great distance from surrounding metal parts, which generally signifies a better antenna performance. Thus, a rear spoiler body 44 formed from a plastic is advantageous. A galvanic coupling between the antenna 48 and the rear spoiler body 44 can thereby also be avoided.

(16) By use of a clip connection as the measure 50 for fastening the antenna 48, short manufacturing times during the assembly of the antenna 48 on the assembly line can be achieved. In particular, a tool does not have to be used for fastening the antenna 48 to the rear spoiler body 44.

(17) The antenna 48 is connected to a transceiver unit 54 of the motor vehicle 40 by an electric connecting line 56. The connecting line 56 is soldered, for example, to the antenna 48. A connecting point between the connecting line 56 and the transceiver unit is cast in a plastic. The connection of the connecting line 56 to the antenna 48 is thereby protected from moisture. It is therefore not necessary to seal the space 58, which is formed by the vehicle body 42 and the rear spoiler body 44, against penetrating water. The connecting line 56 is guided through the vehicle body 42 through a through opening 60 into an interior of the vehicle body 42. The through opening 60 is sealed with a grommet 62 through which the connecting line 56 is likewise guided. As a result, the vehicle body 42 is sealed upon passage of the connecting line 56, and therefore protection of the connection of the transceiver device 54 to the connecting line 56 from penetrating water can be dispensed with.

(18) Alternatively or additionally, the connecting line 56 can also be guided together with other lines from the outside inward through the vehicle body 42 through a common through opening 60. A seal, in particular the grommet 62, can optionally be dispensed with here. In this case, the connection between the transceiver device 54 and the connecting line 56 may be designed so as to be protected against penetrating water. For example, the connecting line 56 can be connected to the transceiver device 54 with a waterproof plug 64. The transceiver device 54 can then also be arranged in what is referred to as a moist space of the motor vehicle 40.

(19) A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).